The Golf Club of Oregon

General Course Description

The Golf Club of Oregon is an 18-hole public course along the Willamette River (which you do not see) just north of downtown Albany. The Golf Club of Oregon is a relatively short course with several long holes (and somewhat confusing routing). Large, mature trees narrow the rolling fairways leading to small raised greens. In between the tees and greens, there are a reasonable number of traps (some of which you can’t see). Fairly flat and a nice walk.

Course History

The first 9 opened in 1929 as Bridgeway Golf Club, a public course. In 1945, it became The Albany Golf Course. In 1951, the then owner, Al Fortier, designed and added the second 9 holes. In 1977, Jerrold and Earlene Claussen obtained an interest in the course and changed the name to The Golf Club of Oregon. There is a nice area of old pictures and ownership history in the clubhouse.

Why It Is There

Local golfers wanted a public golf course in Albany, so they built the course on a farm (the original farmhouse is on the east side of the railroad tracks that run along the first hole). Since 1977, the Claussen family has kept the course going.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

The only information as to yardage and pin placement are the 150-yard poles. Take a range/yardage finder. There are a few hidden traps: on the narrow par-4 second, there is a dip in the fairway before the green, which has traps on either side of the fairway; and on the dogleg left par-4 seventh hole, there is a nasty pocket bunker 1/2 up the right side of the green. Hole 16 is a short par 4 with a sharp dogleg right. On the tee, trees seem to block the turn (and there is a tree in the center of the fairway after you turn and one later guarding the left side of the green). To reach the green in two, you can either hit near the 150 pole and then hit a runner under the trees to the green, or (as suggested by the owner) hit it past the 150 pole and hit over or to the left of the tree that guards the left of the green. Either way, it is an interesting hole.

Did You Know

Bob Buchanan (former coach at Albany High School) shot the first hole-in-one on the course in 1933, when he was about 23. Then in 1974, he played 64 holes to celebrate his 64th birthday.

Good For Them

Very little use of chemicals (fertilizer or pesticides). There is a 25-yard strip of no chemicals along the water courses. The course annually hosts the Stars and Stripes Golf Tournament to benefit the Safe Haven Humane Society.

Why Play This Course

An easy walk will let you experience an interesting variety of holes at a relatively low price. The friendliness of the staff and the history area of the clubhouse are pluses.

General

• • Type: 18-hole public course
  • Price: $$
  • Phone/webpage: (541)928-8338/no web site
  • Address: 905 NW Springhill Drive, Albany, Oregon 97321
  • Owner: J.R. Golf Services, Inc
  • Designer: Ralph and JE Roberts (original 9), Al and Bud Fortier (second 9)
  • Pros: None
  • Practice Facilities: Driving range off mats, practice green, and pitching and sand area
  • Pro Shop: Some clothing and minimal equipment
  • Food: Hot dogs, snacks, soda, and beer
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse and porta potties on course
  • Yardage Markers: 150 poles; no pin information
  • Clothing: Tank tops and non-holed jeans are OK
  • Walkable: Flat, easy walk
  • Spikes: Soft
  • Shoe Cleaning: Brushes and air hose
  • Rentals: All
  • Open all year